<p>I am in love with Georgetown, Dartmouth, and Middlebury, and I am planning to apply SCEA or ED . However, I have an upward trend in my grades. My GPA freshman year was a 3.75, sophomore year 3.54 (ouch) and junior year 3.72. By the end of first semester, I could have a 3.85-3.9 weighted GPA. This would also lead to a substantial increase in class rank, from 10% to about 7%. </p>
<p>I am positive that I would be happy at either of these two schools, but should I wait to apply, and subsequently increase my stats? I know all three schools have higher acceptance rates for early plans. I have a 2230, which I will be retaking, and I will have great recs and ECs. I am ranked in the top 10 in the nation in debate, and I'm on the American team for the World Championship, with many national, regional, and state awards. I'm the President of Amnesty International, co-founder and President of a tutoring program, and a member of Young Democrats and Muslim Cultural Association, etc. etc. I plan on studying Middle Eastern Studies and IR, if that helps. Is the benefit of ED worth not seeing my first semester grades?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>oh and snaps to those who caught the Prep reference!</p>
<p>Why would you wait to apply to increase your stats? If they like you, they'll accept you early, if you're capable of being admitted they will only defer you and then you can work on your stats. You seem to have a good chance early action, so I don't see anything stopping you unless you have financial reasons.</p>
<p>OK, I'll offer my nonprofessional two cents.</p>
<p>It is hard for me to see how slightly higher grades, assuming you do get them, will mean anything, given everything else you have to offer. In other words, if someone won't take you now, for whatever reason, why would they take you with a slightly higher GPA? </p>
<p>But are you sure that you will be ready to choose one over the other two in the fall?</p>
<p>As of now, I'm almost certain that I'm going to apply to Dartmouth ED, along with Chicago EA. Hopefully I will not have to, but I would apply to Middlebury ED II. I'm just not very sure about my chances now, but thank you for your advice. After seeing the rejections of 09ers, I was thinking that numerical statistics played a large role in admissions.</p>
<p>Certainly numbers play a major role. But, as I see it, and my only credential is that my son went through the process last year, most top schools could fill themselves exclusively with high number people and not even look at anything else. But the fact is that they don't. They do look at other things, given that the numbers meet some basic standard. IMO, your numbers are strong enough to allow serious consideration of your other attributes, where you have a lot going for you.</p>
<p>But of course you, like everyone else, should have a safety school in mind!</p>
<p>From a fellow debater, although one not nearly as accomplished (qualifying for NFL nats in policy would be a huge accomplishment for me this year)...</p>
<p>Do you want to debate for Dartmouth? I'm actually not sure what kind of squad they have, I just assume it's a good one because they have DDI. If so, and you get in touch with the people in charge of the Dartmouth debate program, you should be nearly a lock for admission there, whenever you apply. They probably take it very seriously and, as far as its impact on admission, they would consider it like recruitment to play a varsity college sport.</p>
<p>Your plan sounds good - just make sure you've got a real safety mixed in somewhere. You should do well, but random stuff happened last year and like will this year as well. Congrats on all your achievements thus far, and best wishes in your admissions adventure.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. To answer a few questions: I would love to debate for Dartmouth, their debate program is one of the most appealing things about the school. (and there are a lot of appealing things!) I am really hoping to get into one of my top schools early, whether it be Dartmouth or Chicago or Middlebury. If not, then I have quite a few schools in mind that would be considered safeties. Meh, I don't know. I will just continue to pray for green!</p>
<p>^^ Good luck. I'm almost in a similar situation, except to a weaker degree, and I'm wondering if I should do ED so I can have a better shot at my dream school Wellesley. So yea, good luck.</p>
<p>Oh and Dartmouth is very heavily a Policy school, and a Policy debater I am not. I've always wanted to do it though, because I think that the structure is made for substantive debate, with real analysis and argumentation. Persuasion? Maybe not. </p>
<p>However, they do have a Parli team, and I would be open to both.</p>
<p>Whoa definitely had a reality check today
the above numbers are not my GPA at all, according to my GC</p>
<p>Freshman year GPA: 3.750 weighted
Sophomore year GPA: 3.292 weighted
Junior year GPA: 4.224 weighted</p>
<p>3 year GPA: 3.744 weighted, class rank ~11%</p>
<p>I did not think my sophomore year was that dismal. I realize that I have an absolute passion and a lot of things are going for me, but is this GPA far too low for any of my schools?</p>
<p>Write or email the Dart debate coaches, like Jimmyeatworld suggests.
Express your interest, tell them about your debating accomplishments and ask for their advice.
Your stats are not too low if they feel you fill a niche - and it sounds like you might.</p>